Code names

Sometimes we choose not to call certain people by their names in this household, except for a select few that merit the use of both first and last names (mainly old high school crushes). For some reason, it is just too entertaining to refer to people by their respective code names.

Here are some recent favorites:

The T.A. - my crush this semester. Too bad nothing can ever happen while he's still grading my papers.

The Nutty Professor

Golf guy

Flowers guy

Pottery guy

As you can tell, they are all guys. Typical.

A little slice of heaven

My title is probably the most appropriate one that I could think of. We just got done listening to an indescribably powerful fireside by Elder Holland at Aspen Grove. The Spirit was tangible as God's Spirit and beautiful creations surrounded us. He spoke about God's matchless love for us. That love was felt tonight as an apostle of the Lord bore testimony to us that God lives as does His Son, Jesus Christ and that they love us. I know that too.

Sous chef

So, I can't take credit for this cake because I'm doing a little apprenticing with a cute girl in our ward just learning all she knows about making cakes and then helping her with a couple of wedding cakes in August. This was our first practice-cake that we made for my parents 25th wedding anniversary! It was a white cake with a fresh strawberry and banana filling. Way yummy. Thanks Katie for helping me fulfill my baking goal for the summa!

I'm Back...again

Well, its been a couple month absense from the Blogging world, and honestly I've been okay with it. I've been busy with school and then, not-so-busy relaxing from a fast-paced term by watching Harry Potter and other mindless television. But, I'm back and I'm ready to make this summer a great one and a productive one - no matter if I end up having some "summer lovin'" or not. (Nothing bad, just wanted to throw in a quotation in there - nothing else fit)

It's going to be a great. And here's why: these are my goals. I needed to make them solid and account for them - I guess posting them on the world-wide-web qualifies right? Anyway, here is what I hope to accomplish this summer. I'll let you know how it goes. Who knows - maybe that will be my theme for blogging this summer.

My Aspirations Summer '10

Be ever-so-diligent about reading the scriptures. Really try to discover the mysteries of God and feel the Love of God daily.

Improve My Spanish

Get my Pictures developed and put into an album/ Print President’s letters


Develop Guitar/Singing talents

Eat Intuitively and Exercise daily (feel the difference!)

Bake and Cook

Art

Read a couple of Classics

( like the ones that I loved studying in HS but never really finished or read all the way through "Neff! Don't tell me that you didn't read again!" - Mr. Ostenson. haha. Love that quote)

and of course hopefully giving away a few pass-along cards or copies of the Book of Mormon:)

Wicked Favs

Honestly, this post isn't for people to feel sorry for me or wonder what really this is all about, although you will wonder I suppose. And hopefully I haven't blogged for long enough so people who I don't really know or want to read this will have stopped reading. Its just to express how I feel. After all, that's what blogs are for, aren't they?

He could be that boy. But I'm not that girl.
Don't dream too far. Don't loose sight of who you are.
Don't remember that rush of joy. He could be that boy.
I'm not that girl.
Every so often we long to steal to the land that might have been.
That doesn't soften the ache we feel when reality sets back in.
.... that's the girl he chose, and heaven knows, I'm not that girl.
Don't wish. Don't start.
Wishing only wounds the heart.
...There's a girl I know. He loves her so.
I'm not that girl.

I listened to this song today and it was perfect. The lyrics may sound depressing but as I listened it, warmed my heart as each of the things she said resonated with me and with what I feel. And if you listen to it the right way, in an interesting kind of way, it's hopeful, not depressing. I was planning on saying more but, really she says it all. The best part about this song is that, in the end, things did work out for her as I have the surety they'll work out for me. Like President Uchdorf said - every princess (I Know its cleche right - but seriously, can't all of us girls relate to that?) went through her adversity, but they got their happily ever after. Just gotta have faith.

Mis Preguntas

So, I have a few minutes to kill and decided it was an opportune time to post - since its been a week or two. I have to be honest, since I've been back I haven't felt the desire to blog like I did "pre-mish". But really, I don't think that its that big of a deal. Anyway, as I'm sitting here I'm not really sure what to write about but lets think... I'm starting school in a few weeks and I'm excited to be learning and progressing. I'll be starting work in about a week which I'm also excited for - especially because I don't have to dress up to go to work!! I think that is what I'm most excited for - I don't have to buy two different wardrobes now for work and school. What a relief. I'm also getting a lot more into music. Ruby and Dad are my music people.

Well, sorry about that boring paragraph. Its just what has been going on in my life recently. But, on a more pensive note, I've loved listening to conference today. Its come at the perfect time for me. Just last night I was thinking about how I want to be different, more considerate, more serviceable, more susceptible to the Spirit etc. What more of a perfect time could conference come than when you are wanting to change?

I was thinking last night and this morning: what is it specifically that I want to get out of conference? On my mission (a phrase that I use pretty frequently these days) our mission president always encouraged us to have a question for everything - a question for our scripture studies, a question as we went to church, even as we headed out for the day, promising us that we would always receive an answer. I admit that I wasn't the best at following his advice but I tried and the times that I did it I always felt the Spirit providing me with the answers to my questions. So, this morning as conference started, I decided on my question and wrote it down at the top of my notes in my study journal. It is : What do I need to do to become the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be?

Its been a wonderful experience to watch conference with that question in mind and be taking notes not only on what the speakers say but the answers the Spirit reveals to me. Before conference started I knew that I needed to do something to change but I didn't know what. Now after only one day of listening to our inspired leaders, I have more than enough things to change and many goals to set.

How grateful I am for an inspired mission president's advice and for the opportunity I've had today to hear a prophet of God speak to us.

"I'll be home ... but only in my dreams"

Hello Everyone!

I feel a little bit nostalgic writing tonight. Maybe its the final step I have to take to acclimate myself to the post-mission life. But, surprisingly it feels really good. First of all, thank you everyone who has read about my mission experiences and who have loved and supported me. I have appreciated it so much.

Blogging again is weird because I'm thinking about the last time I blogged and all of the things that have happened since. It's amazing. You know. You've been on this adventure with me as you've read my weekly emails. My mission was the best experience of my life. As I've mentioned before (probably) I knew that my Father in Heaven wanted me to serve a mission and although I was excited to go, it was definitely a sacrifice. But, however much of a sacrifice it was, shortly into my mission I started to understand the deep and personal reasons for why I was called to serve. Now that I've finished I understand even more but I'm sure not completely. Serving the the Lord is the best thing in the world and I hope that we can all continue to find that joy throughout our whole lives whether it be serving at home or abroad.

Well, that was a little side note that turned into not-so-much-of-a-side-note. But, what can I say for the month that I've been home? Its been a roller coaster and definitely comparable to the most difficult times of my mission. But, the constant things are here for me to lean on: the scriptures, prayer, and my wonderful parents! Before leaving my mission, on the last night as my mission president gathered us "dying" missionaries together he gave us some words of advice that I will never forget. He gave us five things to do in order to keep the Spirit in our lives as we commence this new journey. 1)Sincere prayer - especially praying for others 2) Diligent scripture study - why do we have to stop studying for an hour just because we come home? 3) write in and read our journals - especially spiritual experiences 4) Understand and apply the doctrine of the sacrament 5) attend the temple regularly.

Theses have been lifesavers for me and although its been a rocky road, staying close to my Heavenly Father has strengthened me. We are so blessed to be His children!

Well, its been a longer post than planned but basically I just wanted to say "I'm back"!

-Maclaine (I'm beginning to like my name again and am finally able to say it outloud!)

Here are some things that I've been up to the last month:

Hanging out with Grandma

Meeting new cousins

Reconnecting with best friends. This is Jamie and I reliving our Titanic experience. Titanic was the last movie that we watched before Jamie left on her mish almost 2 years ago.

and of course being with the fam.

Back Home.

This is the last post for this missionary blog. I've been told by several friends that once your missionary comes home, you really miss the weekly letters you both write and receive. That's probably true. But having our missionary home safe is a blessing we'll always to cherish.

As we traveled with Maclaine through the areas where she served there were two things that were extremely obvious. She was continually protected. And the work of all our missionaries is truly the Lord's work.

When the scriptures talk of a marvelous work and wonder that is spreading throughout the earth, we know that is true. And you know it's true as well. What a miraculous thing it is to take part in this great work.

For those of you who are interested, Maclaine is speaking this coming Sunday, February 28th at 9:00 AM at the Edgemont 19th ward, 300 W. Orem Center Street- just west of the shops at Riverwood.

Nearly Home.

(Brian, Hermana Neff's Dad is writing.)

We are nearly home. We've spent the last two days with Hermana Neff. (She's really having trouble with us calling her by her first named, but we've discovered that her people here drop the "hermana" and simply call her "Neff.")

It has been an altogether wonderful time. Every moment with our daughter has been spent seeing her people. To a parent's wonderful amazement, it hasn't been to renew old friendships - although that happens very naturally - it's to have one last time to check in on those she loves, share her testimony, encourage them with a great amount of pure love and then when the time is right, leave them with hugs and kisses, a gospel message and prayer.

Our daughter's greatest concern is that these people stay faithful in the gospel and enjoy the fruits of fellowship with the saints.

What a wonderful and life-changing experience this is for parents as we watch "Neff" go to work for those she loves.

Family History and Chocolate Sprinkles.

Dearest Family,

Hello! Thank you for your amazing emails! Again! I’m so excited for all that’s going on in Provo – awesome job with the unplanned contacts Dad! Wow – that’s so cool! I have to say, (not talking too much about the trip… but that is one of the things that I’m most excited about just to be a missionary with you guys like sharing spiritual insights and doing unplanned contacts!)

And, I’m way excited Mom that you are learning about family history!! That is something that I really want to get into. The other day it was kind of a dead morning as we were contacting and usually I have to think of specific things to talk about or conversations can get kind of distracted sometimes, especially when you and your companion are good friends… anyway, I decided to ask my companion about her ancestors and then she asked me about mine. I realized that I really don’t know very much about them. I’m SUPER excited to get involved in family history. There have got to be people waiting for us to do the work for them.

Speaking of conversations while tracting, sometimes we play little scripture mastery games but when you don’t know a lot of scripture mastery it goes by fast, so it was my companion's turn to think of a game and so she thought about it and then said, “would you rather…”. But, its would you rather missionary style. Its been so fun. I’ve been way into it. We were even with a member yesterday and the conversation went dead so I asked a couple of them. It was fun. Here are a few examples: would you rather have lived in the pioneer times or in Nephi’s times?, would you rather have been missionary companions with Alma or Paul?, would you rather convert a Buddhist or an atheist? Etc. Anyway, just a fun little detail of the week but I know that you guys like details!

Also this week, as I mentioned in my President’s letter we are teaching Jessie and Nelson. They are really awesome. They have had other missionaries from other churches come over before but they haven’t liked it as much as they like hearing from us. Its really neat. They are both so great. Nelson is really quiet and Jessie is really loud but they make a cute couple and its really cool teaching a family. I hope that they keep going and that they get baptized. She loves to make us food after the lessons and the lessons usually get over a little bit later and then she has us stay for some kind of dinner/snack that has French fries involved. The first time it was French fries with fried hot dogs and a really good fry sauce dip that I have the recipe for. Jessie and Nelson are really awesome. I love being in lessons and feeling the Spirit. Its just about the best feeling in the entire world.

Well, I wish that there were more to tell you about the last week. It was a good week. I’m a little bit bummed because I let myself get a little bit distracted. But, I’m totally recommitted and ready to have an awesome week. I was saying my prayers last night and I felt that gratitude that you were talking about Dad. I really cannot imagine even at all my life without my mission. I am so eternally grateful for it.

I can’t begin to count the blessings that I have received there are so many. I think that one of them is the love that I have developed for the scriptures. There are so many things to learn and I’m so excited that I have a whole lifetime ahead of me to learn more and to share. I know that this is the true and living church of Christ. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and that he has the keys to lead and guide the church. I want to take advantage of every opportunity I have to share the Gospel.

I love all of you more than I can express and am so excited to share with you even more of what I have heard, seen and felt here.
I love you,

Sister, Hermana, Ruman, Zuster Neff

P.S. I’m getting just a few little fun things for the family. They have the fun tradition to put sprinkles on their toast and it's actually really tasty because the sprinkles are really good. I almost wasn’t going to get any then I thought about Gabe and thought, what 7 year old wouldn’t want to have chocolate sprinkles on his toast. So I hope that you’re excited to eat dutch sprinkle toast.

French Fries and Fried Ham.

Hello Family,
Oh I love you all so so so so so so so so so so so much! De verdad! It was great to hear about your week. I loved the Pokemon Gabeism! Well, basically I just love everything that you guys write. I’m excited to hang out with Ruby on Sundays too! It’s such an interesting feeling being excited to go home and really excited about everything that’s happening here.

Our area is doing really great and we are working really hard. But, the blessings and the success is coming from the Lord. So, this morning as I was mopping I was thinking about Saturday chores and how dumb it was that I would complain about doing them. Sorry mom. I’m excited to do Saturday chores when I get back. I’ve discovered on the mission that my favorite job is sweeping and mopping. Ah… there is just nothing like a clean floor. Wow. I’m so weird.

Thanks so much for your prayers for my investigators. I know that they have been helping them. There are a lot of people that I’m pretty excited about right now. They are all women ranging from 17 to like 45 and then one boy who is 15. I’ll just tell you a little bit about them. Chantal – our investigator with a baptismal date. Really sweet and really prepared. Jenny – from Venezuela, about 24 with two kids, she and her husband are struggling but she reads the Book of Mormon everyday and we are going to help her get to church this week. Jessie – from Columbia, really intense but kind of goofy at the same time, invited friends over to listen to the lesson this past week. She loves idea of the Book of Mormon and has a lot of potential. Sometimes she gets kind of passionate about what she is saying and ends up yelling – but she’s funny.

Shirley's – from Curacao comes to church every week and really likes it. Her boyfriend was an inactive member but has been coming back. She is learning a lot from church, and is praying to know if its true. We taught her the first half of the plan of Salvation (we usually divide it up into two lessons because it is so long) and it was cool because she said that she had wondered what happens after this life so we said that that is what we would talk about the next week and then left her with Alma 40 to read and told her that she’d find the answer in there. Way awesome. I love leaving people with things to read because then when you do and when they understand it then they can basically teach you the lesson and they learn a lot!

Judy – from Curacao. She was an unplanned contact (the contacts that we have to do everyday outside of normal tracting. We contact them at stores, or on the street, etc,) she basically already has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and is going to come to church this Sunday! Then Jeffrey is the last one – he is 15 and has been reading the Book of Mormon. His challenge is going to be coming to church. He goes to another church with his family, but nothing is impossible.

Anyway, that’s just a little bit about the people that I’m teaching this week. Can I just tell you how much I love missionary work! Wow. It is just so awesome. I feel like I’m on fire. From the way it’s looking right now, we probably won’t have a baptism before I go. I haven’t given up faith, I’m just being realistic. I was a little bit bummed but I know that the people I teach will get baptized and I have no greater joy than working in the vineyard of the Lord. Just, “thrusting in my sickle” and working hard is about the greatest thing ever. I really feel privileged to preach the Gospel. And, I’m excited to continue to share the Gospel when I get back.

A little while ago I was a little bit discouraged because at first glance there really aren’t that many opportunities to share the Gospel in P-town but I thought about then when we meet with members and they say that they don’t have anyone to share the Gospel with I invite them to pray for missionary experiences. Hello! I need to do the same thing!! So, I’m excited to come back and to keep working in the vineyard. (I read Jacob 5 today so that’s why I keep mentioning the word “ vineyard.”) I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it is true. I know that it is true. I love doing President Martineau’s challenge and asking Heavenly Father in prayer every time I read for the Spirit to testify to me of its truthfulness because He does.

Thank you a million times for all of your support I love you all so so much and lu-uv reading your emails!

Sister Neff

P.S. my goal is to loose 5 lbs in 2-3 weeks. I don’t know why I said that but I just thought it was funny, who knows if its possible - we have lunches with members just about everyday this week. I think the worst thing that I’ve eaten was on Saturday - French fries, fried ham, a huge helping of potato salad, and a cabbage and mayo salad. With jello and sweet and condensed milk. Pretty sure that’s not on the plan. But, its totally all part of the experience. The jump rope is just becoming my best friend.

P.P.S. Sometimes I get sad me, as a white girl, can never do corn rows like all of the black girls can. Everyone has corn rows here! They are so awesome! Devin wants to be Polynesian, Ruby wants to be Native American and I want to be black. hahaha

Just under three weeks and counting.

This is Maclaine's dad writing. In less than three weeks Maclaine will be released from her mission. We are all in denial. Grateful denial, but denial nonetheless. It takes our breath away when we consider this most marvelous blessing to us, to her and especially to her beloved people of Puerto Rico. Gotta stop writing. Tears are coming!

Elders with Cameras

Wow, its really hard to concentrate right now because the Titanic theme song just came on. Actually I’m surprised, I’m not as distracted as I would’ve thought… Oh wait, the finale is coming up… Ok here we go. This seems to be the radio station that plays all of the songs that I loved in 6th grade. Latin pop is so much easier to tune out. Anyway…

Thank you so much for your emails. They were so inspiring! Every week I just get this boost and reminder of the eternal importance of my calling. Thank you so much for giving me so much strength! I’m so glad that Andy is teaching Latin people. Wow. I just am in love with this part of the world. It is so special. We are teaching a girl from Suraname. She speaks English but also Dutch. Its cool because every time she needs to say no she says, “neigh”. Anyway, I just love all of these countries down here.

But, this week has been great. There are a lot of great spiritual things to share and a couple of funny things to share too. Like I said in my President’s letter, we have been blessed with some really neat investigators. I can’t think of anything too specific to share, just that I love finding people and testifying to them of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I find that my most effective contacts are when I really internalize what I’m saying and what the Gospel really means to me. I was thinking about it during one of my studies. I was reading 2 Nephi 4 and Nephi is so grateful of everything that he has. I wanted to be more grateful so I started to list all of the things that I was grateful for. At first it started out to be more for temporal blessings and as the list continued it turned into Gospel blessings : Temples, Prophets and Apostles, the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. When I think about all of these blessings in my life while I am talking to others about the Gospel my desire becomes so much deeper for them to accept.

This week Its been neat because I’ve felt way more focused in the work. Normally when we get in the car is when its easiest to become unfocused and just talk about things that don’t really matter. Well, we came up with the idea of reading to each other from the Bible Dictionary while we drive. There are so many things that we feel like we don’t know about the Bible and the Bible Dictionary is a great resource. So we’ve been doing it and its been awesome. Its helped me to keep my mind on Spiritual things and helped keep my focus and energy up the whole day!

Ok, I think the most interesting things that’s happened this week has been ... drumroll… our bikes!!! We are biking missionaries now. Our first ride was riding home at night on them. We were both nervous but we got home ok. I actually really loved it! I felt even more like a missionary! The next morning wasn’t as fun as the first night but the soreness wore off pretty quick. Well, 2 days later we took the bikes again but this time to a lunch cita. I found out that its best not to ride on the side of the road where all of the thorns hide out. I got a flat. Luckily all of the other elders were also going to the cita so they came and fixed it for us, then they headed up to go to lunch. Well, as we were going up the last hill where the members house was, lo and behold ALL of the elders are standing at the top… WITH THEIR CAMERAS, videoing us!!! I have to say that I wasn’t too happy. My companion was a good sport though and finished climbing the hill. I, on the other hand, got off. I think my exact words were, “ I am not giving 8 elders the satisfaction of watching me ride my bike up a hill!” Oh elders. I have to say it was pretty funny though. But, all in all. Its been a fun experience. We really haven’t had to do it very much, but I’ve enjoyed it. We pray for a lot of protection.

Well, my time is slowly clicking away (at the internet place). I just feel so joyful these days and I’m glad that you guys do too. I love you so much and am really super excited to see you. I’m still kind of in denial but it’s a good denial. Just gotta focus on Today and the needs of the people here. I love them so much. I love Gods work, I know that this is His work and Glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man – and it all starts with missionary work. What a privilege we all have to be a part of it!!! I love you all so much!!

Love, Sister Neff

"The hard is what makes it great."

Hello my darling family! Oh how I love you! Oh how I love your emails!

Wow. Well, this week has been great. Tough but great. But, just before… a little , as mom likes to call it, “housekeeping”. First item of business – I don’t think that President is coming down before next transfers. Possibly but I don’t think so. Sometimes they send the mail down through someone else, but I don’t know if any more would get here. I haven’t gotten your other letters yet but I think that someone has them – I’m going to pick them up today. And, other good news, our bikes haven’t arrived yet! Maybe this week we’ll start using them. It will be a perfect getting in shape thing.

Also, sad news – Elder Bednar isn’t coming down to the islands – he’s just going to Puerto Rico. We were super super bummed. But, its ok. He is doing a conference with both of the Puerto Rico missions and there are a lot of other islands in the east mission, so it wouldn’t be totally fair for him to come to some islands and not to others. Who knows if that’s why or not but its what we tell ourselves to help ourselves feel better. I think that’s all of the little news that I can think of.

Wow – it sounds like a great week that you guys have had! That is so neat about the ward doing so much humanitarian work! So neat. The reaction to the whole Haiti thing is a little bit different down here – I think it has really scared a lot of people. It usually gets brought up in lessons and then there are always the people that tell us they know why it happened. We don’t really know a lot of the details but that is awesome that they are getting a lot of help from the Edgemont 19th ward.

Well, like I said – its been a great week but also a hard week. Aren’t they always like that! There is a quote that I love from "A League of their own," and I totally applied it to the mission. Jimmy Dougan (Tom Hanks) is talking to Dottie who is going to leave the baseball league and she says, “It just got too hard.” He says, “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” I love that because its so true. It wouldn’t be this great if it wasn’t so hard.

I just feel so grateful for this experience. I am loving it right now. I had interviews with President Martineau last week. They were awesome. I told him that I haven’t really realized that its my last transfer and then when I do I get nervous because I don’t really have any plans or goals for the future – like after the mission. What he told me was really neat. He explained the principal of “proximity” and that revelation usually doesn’t come to us until we need it. For example – the last night in the mission president’s home we have a chance to make those goals and I don’t need that revelation right now. So he told me not to worry about it and to just work hard. I was so glad. In Gabe’s words, “I feel so free!” I felt so liberated after the interview in knowing that I don’t need to worry about any of that right now, I just need to work hard! Of course its hard sometimes to stay focused – especially when you look at the date! I was contemplating whiting out the date on my planner so I wouldn’t be reminded of it but then I decided that that wouldn’t be very practical with setting appointments.

But, we have seen some really neat things this week. We have a couple of really neat young investigators that we see a lot of potential in. “Future missionary” was coming to my head all of the last lesson. I love this work and I love the scriptures. I’m so grateful for the Book of Mormon challenge that President Martineau gave us. We were talking about it in Zone conference and president asked one of the elders, “ Elder, when will the time come that you don’t read every day from the Book of Mormon?” he looked down and then said, “President, I don’t think that day will come anymore.” I was really touched by that and want to adapt his response. Every morning I wake up with a thirst to learn from the scriptures. The Book of Mormon is becoming the keystone to my religion. I know that it is the word of God and an evidence that this is the true church of Christ. He lives.

I love the calling that I have as a missionary and what makes me so happy is to know that my calling of preaching the Gospel doesn’t end with my mission because our call to gather Israel is for our whole lives! How neat is that!

Well, I love you all so much and I hope that you have a great week!

Love,
Zuster Neff( I got my Dutch nametag!)

P.S. My companion and I love to make Dutch crapes – it’s a good mix that we get at the store. Also, Ritter sports have become a necessity whenever we pass by a pharmacy.

The lingering possibility of helmet hair.

Dear Family,

I was super excited to hear from you guys too this week! Wow, what incredible things that have happened this week for you guys! Happy Birthday Ruby! I totally thought of you yesterday and thought too that I can’t believe that you are 14! Wow. That’s just crazy. It made me smile a big smile to know that Ruby laughs like me. I didn’t know that I “have” a laugh but that makes me happy. There’s a lot of things that make me happy these days.

Wow! What a neat experience that Gabe had! Wow! That is just about the most special thing I’ve ever heard. Elder Holland is like the hero apostle of all of the missionaries. That is SO awesome. Gabe – you will be an amazing missionary and you will love your mission too.

Wow, it is so great to hear from you guys. I just love you all so so so much. This week started off with me going to Aruba to pick up my new companion and drop off Sister Reid. We stayed there for the night and then left the next afternoon. It was fun. It was sad to see sister Reid go though. I probably won’t see her until she is done with her mish. But, this week has been fun with my new companion. She is from Cali – a little bit east of LA. She is super fun. She has about 10 or so months in the mission and speaks good Spanish and Papiamento. So its really nice. We have had a lot of fun together. I’m grateful to have her as my companion for my last transfer.

Its been really interesting to think about. Most of the time it doesn’t feel any different until something happens like last night when I decided to work on a Christlike attribute from Preach My Gospel – one a week. My companion asks me, “um.. . do you have enough time to do that?” No! Then, it hits me and it's really weird. I’m not really sad, but I’m just enjoying every minute and every time I’m in a lesson feeling the Spirit. Yesterday it was really neat we had a lesson where an investigator was describing how she felt as she read the Book of Mormon and even with the distracting American music in the background I was able to feel the Spirit and was so amazed at how true the Book of Mormon is.

I just love feeling the Spirit so much. It is definitely something that I have been able to recognize more on my mission, the presence of the Holy Ghost and its promptings. Just last night we needed to contact some more people before we reported our numbers and I was going to turn to go to a place where we could find a lot of people but I felt like I should turn the other way and go the longer way to get there. After thinking about it for a second I decided to follow the prompting and go. It wasn’t a huge deal but just a little prompting from the Holy Ghost.

Well, on the way over we needed to drop something off at a member’s house so we stopped and on the way talked to a guy who was waiting for the bus. He seemed interested and without hesitating accepted an appointment. Then after, as we were talking with someone else I looked over to see the bus picking him up and he was gone. I knew that I had received that prompting because of him. Just something small but it was really neat to see how subtle the Holy Ghost’s promptings are and that they will always lead us to do the right thing. So, right now I’m just finding joy in all of the little opportunities like that that I have everyday. I just have to make the most of it.

Well, I love you guys so so much. There isn’t too much to report on this week. Thanks so much for praying with me for my goal! I KNOW that it is possible. I love you all and I hope that you have an awesome week!

Sister Neff

P.S.We probably get our bikes this week. We are going to be half the week on bikes. Half on cars. Super excited for helmet hair. But hey, it will help me get in shape!

E ta hopi nechi

Sorry, I thought that P-day would be tomorrow, but its today. (We didn't send her an email because we were planning on sending it on Tuesday.) My companion and I are going to Aruba tonight to spend the night then I'm coming back with my new companion tomorrow to start - can you believe it- my last transfer. Wow, I just can't even believe it.

It has been a crazy week just thinking about the fact that this is my last transfer. I actually got kind of emotional the last planning session as I was talking about my goals for the next week, and really, for the next transfer. My goal for this transfer is to magnify my calling as a missionary. I really want to strive to become the missionary that Heavenly Father wants me to be. My desire to do that is so strong. Also, I want to baptize two people this transfer. I know that with Heavenly Father's help I can help bring two other people into the church. I read "The testifying and challenging missionary" today and in that talk I realized how I can accomplish this goal! Wow, as I think back on what I have learned, especially as I was thinking about 2009 - the entire that I've spent in my mission - I was filled with emotion and gratitude for what Heavenly Father has given me. I want to do everything I can to live up to the expectations that Heavenly Father has for me on my mission.

Well, I hope your week was good. Kind of weird to be writing a letter without hearing from you... but its all good. Did you get President's letter? Elder Bednar is going to be coming to our mission at the end of January!!! Wow. E ta hopi nechi! (its really cool!) What a tender mercy for me to be able to see him this last transfer. Whoa.

I'm bummed again because I can't send pictures. There are a million that I want to send you! We went to this cool place last P-day called shete boca (seven mouths) its a cool park where the water breaks on the shore... anyway, I got some cool pics. Hopefully next week.

Well, as I'm sitting down to write, I can't think of anything really specific to write about this week. It was a great week but I just can't remember what happened! Oh yes - New years. Let me just tell you how many fireworks they have here. Oh. My. Gosh. But, they aren't cool kinds, they are just really dangerous, loud kinds. The entire week they were going off, more and more until New Years Eve. It was crazy. They would light them off in the middle of the day and in the street.

I think I had a heart attack every time I would hear one - it sounded like a gunshot every time. Our district was talking about New Years Eve and one of the elders said, " Last year I went to bed on time " and another one responded, "Ya, well last year you weren't living in Vietnam!" Seriously. But, thank goodness the firework madness is over. Just a little piece of Curacao that I thought I'd share with you.

Oh, another interesting piece of news... we are getting bikes. Ya. We'll still have cars but we'll have bikes too. I don't really know why but hey, at least I'll be getting in shape!

We have some really great new investigators that I am excited about. I have a lot of hopes for them. I can't tell you how much I love teaching the restoration. I feel such a sweet Spirit every time. I know that Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Also, what a great experience it was to finish the Book of Mormon on the 31st! (A goal for her mission.) I was finishing the last few chapters in Moroni and I had the strongest, most burning feeling in my heart telling me that what I was reading was true. Then, as I knelt down to pray and do as Moroni instructed, the feeling intensified. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. We watched the Restoration movie a couple of days later and with my renewed and stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon in mind I felt a confirmation about Joseph Smith. If the Book of Mormon is true then surely Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I knew these things before but my testimony has deepened and my desire to share this with the world has grown. The days after I had these experiences I felt incredibly happy as I went about doing missionary work and testifying to people of the Book of Mormon.

Love you,
Sister Nefi